Health First announces new Vice President of Managed Care

ROCKLEDGE, FL—Jeff Sterling has joined Health First as the Vice President of Managed Care, reporting to Joe Felkner, Chief Financial Officer for Health First.

In this newly created role, Sterling will direct and oversee the entire Managed Care function of the four Health First hospitals and the Health First Medical Group. Sterling will lead the development of the Managed Care strategy for Health First that will provide critical direction as systems such as Health First adjust to comply with healthcare reform.

Sterling most recently served as Regional Director of Managed Care for Universal Health Services (UHS), a national, for-profit hospital system based in Pennsylvania. In that role, he was responsible for the Managed Care strategy for the UHS hospitals, physicians, and ancillaries in the Florida and South Carolina markets.

Prior to his years with UHS, Sterling was the Director of Managed Care with El Paso First in El Paso, TX. El Paso First, similar to Health First, is a completely integrated healthcare delivery system. While at El Paso First, he held a unique dual role and was responsible for all Managed Care functions of the healthcare plan, as well as the hospital provider entities.

Sterling has 20 years of experience in the managed healthcare industry, with his experience equally split between hospital and health plan responsibilities. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Central Florida. Sterling and his wife Tamara have relocated to Brevard from Orlando.

###

About Health First
Health First is Central Florida's only fully integrated health system. With a Mission to positively change the health and wellness of the communities we serve, Health First offers the latest technological advances and quality care at our four hospitals and through our many Outpatient & Wellness Services, as well as the area's only Trauma and Heart Centers. Health First also offers multiple commercial and Medicare health plans, the largest multi-specialty physician group in Brevard County, and four fitness centers to help members of our community stay healthy.